Imagine waking up each morning to this beautiful Colonial house plan. Its stately elegant exterior is enhanced by the treasures within. Let me just mention a few: vaulted ceilings, split staircase, sunken living room, sitting room, library, study, guest suite, fireplace, veranda, outdoor grill and bar, four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and three half baths. Whether you decorate this home with museum grade antiques or brand new furnishings, you will be creating your own family heirlooms for generations to come. There are so many new memories awaiting you and your family, like the first time Grandma arrives to visit and enters in grand style from the porte-cochere, or your daughter descends the stairs for her first prom, or gazing at the stars with a loved one from the second floor balcony porch. Although it may seem like you have stepped into a magnificent piece of history, this house plan provides you with the possibilities of a glorious future. A splendid luxury home like this deserves to be named by you and your family. Sorry, Monticello is already taken.

Turrets and gables and a porch, oh my! Add siding and some gingerbread trim and we have the recipe for a great Victorian look for this two-story house plan. On the first floor the turrets house a den and a breakfast nook. Upstairs the front turret boasts one of the four bedrooms. What a cozy sanctuary for its lucky occupant. The other creates an interesting nook for a whirlpool in the master bath. Of course there are all the necessities for civilized life, like a family room, dining room, living room with a tray ceiling, a kitchen with a walk-in pantry and an attached two car garage. But seriously, you had me at porch. It wraps lovingly around this house plan and winds up in the back as a veranda for some great dining, entertaining, or just relaxing, oh my.

The Victorian design of this sweet two-story house plan exudes charm inside and out. Exterior details like the siding façade, wrap-around porch and decorative details express a quaintness of days gone by. Inside, the walls shaped by the turrets, create interesting nuances for interior design. A fireplace in the family room delivers cozy togetherness for the residents. With a breakfast nook and separate dining area, there is plenty of room for families and friends to sit down together to dine. On the second floor, the master suite sports a vaulted ceiling, and its bathroom has a skylight. Each room of this house plan generates interest in its own way all wrapped up in that delightful exterior.

Add a little fun to your holidays with these sweet treats. Pretzel M&M Hugs are as tasty as they are addictive. If you are not comfortable baking goodies in the kitchen, this is a good starter recipe and lots of fun to include eager young helpers. The finished product is attractive enough to box up for gifts, if you can hold onto them for that long.

Pretzel M&M Hugs

70 square waffle pretzels

70 Hershey Hugs

70 chocolate M&M’s

Parchment paper

These are approximate numbers. Make as many as you wish. You are only limited by the number of items in a bag. Of course, all of the Hugs have to be unwrapped and that is where your helpers come in. Line up the pretzels on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper and place one unwrapped Hug on top of each. Heat them in a preheated oven at 200 degrees. They will start to look shiny. Remove from the oven and carefully press an M&M down into each center smashing the Hug into the pretzel. Voila, now all you have to do is let them cool, which you can speed up by placing the sheets in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. Once they have cooled, store them in airtight containers. I would like to say that the hardest part of making these is to refrain from eating them all. Actually, I have found the hardest part to be moving the cookie sheets full of them in and out of the oven without sending them flying in all directions. Slow down, take your time, don’t burn your fingers and enjoy. There are lots of variations of this candy on the internet, using different combinations of ingredients for different holidays. Explore, experiment and have fun.

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